Sparks Dearica Hamby wins 2024 Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award
Dearica Hamby is respected as a leader and role model within the Sparks locker room and the WNBA voters have acknowledged it, giving her the 2024 Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award.
Dearica Hamby had a career year in 2024 with the L.A. Sparks.
She flirted with a double-double on a nightly basis, averaging 17.3 points and 9.2 rebounds per game, was named a WNBA All-Star and was second in Most Improved Player of the Year voting.
On Wednesday, the WNBA added another accolade to her season, giving her the 2024 Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award.
A great role model to her kids & for the entire WNBA.
— Los Angeles Sparks (@LASparks) October 2, 2024
Congrats to @dearicamarie on winning the 2024 Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award. pic.twitter.com/I1KNZ9AlVe
Hamby received 12 votes, the most of any WNBA player, beating out Alysha Clark of the Las Vegas Aces, who came in second.
Per release, “Los Angeles Sparks forward Dearica Hamby has been named the recipient of the 2024 Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award, the WNBA announced today.” Congratulations, @dearicamarie — your exemplary mentorship and leadership are a credit to the W. pic.twitter.com/S5lV6LaeVH
— Myles (@MylesEhrlich) October 2, 2024
This award intends to honor a player who best represents sportsmanship on the court.
Hamby is the third L.A. Spark to win the award. Nneka Ogwumike won it three times in a row from 2019-21 and Haixia Zheng was the recipient in 1997.
In a press release from the Sparks, Hamby expressed what winning the award means to her.
“I am incredibly grateful to be recognized with the Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award. This is especially meaningful at this point in my career because it represents values that go beyond winning and to be recognized for that means a lot to me,” said Hamby. “Being on this list alongside some of the most highly respected players in our league is truly humbling.”
Sparks General Manager Raegan Pebley also made a statement praising her star forward in the press release.
“We are so happy for Dearica to receive this honor. We have watched Dearica consistently choose what is right and good for the group over her own convenience and comfort. She leads with conviction in her values and confidence in her humility while encouraging others to do the same.”
Things haven't been easy for Hamby since joining the Sparks in 2023. She has been in an ongoing dispute with her former team, the Las Vegas Aces, regarding why she was traded and has since filed a discrimination complaint.
The WNBA and the Aces responded by filing separate motions to dismiss Hamby's lawsuit, but the results of this are still ongoing.
On the basketball court, her team has struggled, losing 55 games during these two seasons, but Hamby has remained a consummate professional, playing in all 80 games.
With Hamby already under contract for the 2025 season, the Sparks' young players, such as Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson, can continue to benefit from her leadership while this rebuild continues.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88.